New Guinea Impatiens plant named `Kipab`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant named `Kipab`, characterized by its small and numerous pink-colored flowers; early flowering; upright and relatively compact growth habit; freely branching plant habit; and dark green, slightly shiny non-variegated leaves.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri, previously known under the code name, MFE 56 PINK, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name `Kipab`.

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Gensingen, Germany. The objective of the breeding program was to develop compact varieties with numerous small flowers, early-flowering, uniform plant habit, attractive flower and foliage colors and good flower form.

The new cultivar originated from a cross made by the Inventor of the proprietary selection identified as MF 352 as the male, or pollen parent, with the proprietary selection identified as MF 291 as the female, or seed parent. The cultivar `Kipab` was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Gensingen, Germany, in April, 1995. Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken at Gensingen, Germany, has shown that the unique features of this new Impatiens are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of `Kipab`. These characteristics in combination distinguish `Kipab` as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Small and numerous pink-colored flowers.

2. Early flowering.

3. Upright and relatively compact growth habit.

4. Freely branching plant habit.

5. Dark green, slightly shiny non-variegated leaves.

Plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens are more compact and have darker pink flowers than plants of the male parent, MF 352. Compared to plants of the female parent, MF 291, plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens have greener foliage, and lighter pink and more rounded flowers.

Plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens are similar in flower color to the New Guinea Impatiens cultivar `Grenada` (disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,343). However in side-by-side comparisons in Encinitas, Calif. under commercial practice, plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens differed from plants of the cultivar `Grenada` in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens have much shorter internodes than plants of the cultivar `Grenada`.

2. Leaves of plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens are shorter, narrower and less shiny than leaves of plants of the cultivar `Grenada`.

3. The lower surfaces of leaves of plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens are green whereas the lower surfaces of leaves of plants of the cultivar `Grenada` are dark purple.

4. Leaf petioles of plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens are longer and much lighter pink than leaf petioles of plants of the cultivar `Grenada`.

5. Flowers of plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens are smaller than flowers of plants of the cultivar `Grenada`.

6. Flower color of plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens is lighter and less salmon pink than flower color of plants of the cultivar `Grenada`.

7. Plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens flower earlier than plants of the cultivar `Grenada`.

A detailed comparison of plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens and the cultivar `Grenada` appears in Chart A at the end of the specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of `Kipab`.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a close-up view of a typical flower and leaves of `Kipab` (left) and `Grenada` (right). Flower and foliage colors in the photographs may differ from the actual colors due to light reflectance.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The cultivar Kipab has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in 10-cm pots in Encinitas, Calif., under commercial practice in a fiberglass-covered greenhouse with day temperatures ranging from 23 to 29° C. and night temperatures ranging from 16 to 18° C. and light levels of about 3,000 footcandles.

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Classification:

Botanical.--Impatiens hawkeri cultivar `Kipab`.

Commercial.--New Guinea Impatiens cultivar `Kipab`.

Parentage:

Male parent.--Proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as MF 352.

Female parent.--Proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as MF 291.

Propagation:

Type cutting.--Terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.--Summer: About 14 days with 21° C. soil temperature. Winter: About 18 days with 21° C. soil temperature.

Time to develop roots.--Summer: About 21 days with 21° C. soil temperature. Winter: About 24 days with 21° C. soil temperature.

Plant description:

Plant form.--Upright, rounded and mounding.

Growth habit.--Moderately vigorous. Moderate branching, dense and bushy growth. Appropriate for 10 and 12.5-cm containers.

Crop time.--From planting of a rooted cutting, about six to eight weeks are required to produce a finished flowering plant in a 12.5-cm container.

Plant size.--Height: About 15.5 cm. Width or spread: About 22 cm.

Lateral branches.--Quantity: About six. Length: About 9 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm. Internode length: About 2.75 cm. Color: 59B.

Foliage description.--Leaves simple, generally symmetrical, abundant, opposite or in whorls of three, horizontal to plant and flat in aspect. Length: About 10.5 cm. Width: About 4.2 cm. Shape: Elliptic with acuminate apex, attenuate base and serrulate margin with ciliation. Texture: Smooth, slightly shiny. Color: Young foliage, upper surface: Brighter green than 147A. Young foliage, lower surface: 147C. Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: 147A. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 147C. Venation, upper surface: 148D. Venation, lower surface: 51D. Petiole: Length: About 4 cm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm. Color: 51C.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.--Small pink-colored flowers. Freely and continuously flowering. Flowers arise from leaf axils. Usually about seven or eight flowers per lateral branch. Flowers positioned above the foliage and face slightly outward. Flowers flat and rounded triangular. Flowers persistent.

Flowering season.--Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In the garden, flowering is continuous from spring until fall. Flowers typically last less than one week depending on environmental and cultural conditions.

Flower size.--Length: About 4 cm. Width: About 3.5 cm. Depth: About 4 mm.

Flower buds.--Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 1.2 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: 54C/54D.

Petals.--Quantity: Five. Length: Upper petal: About 2 cm. Middle petals: About 1.8 cm. Lower petals: About 2.5 cm. Width: Upper petal: About 3 cm. Middle petals: About 1.8 cm. Lower petals: About 2.6 cm. Shape: Cordate with emarginate apex, acute base and entire margin. Texture: Smooth, iridescent. Color: When opening, upper surface: 55B. When opening, lower surface: 55C. Fully opened, upper surface: 55B/55C with distinct eye, 58B to 57A at attachment. Fully opened, lower surface: 55D. Fading to: 55D with distinct eye, 57A.

Spur.--Length: About 4.1 cm. Shape: Narrow and curved. Color: 51A.

Peduncles.--Length: About 4.7 cm. Angle: Erect and slightly outward. Strength: Moderately strong. Color: 50B/50C.

Reproductive organs.--Androecium: Stamen number: Five, anthers fused, filaments free. Anther shape: Obovate. Anther size: 3 mm by 4 mm. Anther color: 4D to white. Amount of pollen: Moderate. Pollen color: Cream. Gynoecium: Five-loculate fused. Gynoecium length: About 3 mm. Gynoecium color: 145A.

Disease resistance: Under commercial conditions, resistance to pathogens has not been observed.

Seed development: Seed production has not been observed.

    ______________________________________                                         CHART A                                                                        CHARCATERISTICS                                                                              `KIPAB`      `GRENADA`                                           ______________________________________                                         INTERNODE LENGTH                                                                             About 2.75 cm                                                                               About 4 cm                                          LEAF LENGTH   About 10.5 cm                                                                               About 11.75 cm                                      LEAF WIDTH    About 4.2 cm About 5 cm                                          LEAF COLOR, FULLY                                                                            147C         59A/59B                                             EXPANDED, LOWER                                                                SURFACE                                                                        VENATION COLOR,                                                                              148D         60A                                                 UPPER SURFACE                                                                  VENATION COLOR,                                                                              51D          59A                                                 LOWER SURFACE                                                                  PETIOLE LENGTH                                                                               About 4 cm by                                                                               About 5 cm by 5 cm                                  (length by width)                                                                            3.5 cm                                                           SPUR LENGTH   About 4.1 cm About 4.3 cm                                        PETAL COLOR, WHEN                                                                            55B          47D                                                 OPENING, UPPER                                                                 SURFACE                                                                        PETAL COLOR,  55B/55C      48C                                                 OPENED, UPPER Eye, 58B/57A Eye, 57A                                            SURFACE                                                                        PETAL COLOR,  55D          48D                                                 OPENED, LOWER                                                                  SURFACE                                                                        PEDUNCLE COLOR                                                                               50B/50C      47A/47B                                             ______________________________________                                     

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant named 